Heating apparatus



June 16, 1931. A.. B. MODINE HEATING APPARATUS I Filed April 25I 1923 s sheets-sheet 1 June 16, 1931.

A. B. MQDINE HEATING APPARATUS Filed April f2.5, 192:5

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HEATING APPARATUS Filed April 25, 1925 8 Sheets- Shee't 5 I* il] 1 f JW@ June 16, 1931. A, B, MOmNE 1,810,721

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- 1 HEATING APPARATUS Filed April 25, 192s a sheets-sheet June 16, 1931.

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' I HEATING APPARATUS Filed APlil 25, 1923 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 I 1 Mill/7453565' Cfr/V677@ 90 f #WKZ/a i j Patented .lune` 16; 1931 STATES PATENT Aor-'Flciaz ARTHUR B. MODINE, F RACINE, WISCONSIN, ASBIGNOR TO IODINE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, 0F RACINE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION 0F WISCONSIN HEATING APPARATUS Application filed. April 25,

My invention belongs to that general class of devices known as heating apparatus, and relates more particularly to an improved radiator construction or the like for steam,

hot water, or other similar systems. The invention has among its objects the production of apparatus of the kind described that is simple, compact, attractive, inexpensive, of

, vlight weight, economical andl eiclent. The 10 invention has particularly as an object the production of such a structure which is comparatively compact and of light wei ht and inexpensive, but which will have an e ciency equal to or greater than devices of greatly increased' weight and size, and which are considerably more expansive. The same also has as an object the production of a device permitting the construction of a new and novel apparatus providing a simple and eiiicient heating system. Among its further objects are the production of a device which may be eiciently as well as conveniently controlled to maintain a substantially constant temperature, and also rovide improved ventilation or circulation. any other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein given.

To this end, my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shownl and described, and, more particularly pointed out 1n the claims. a

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts,

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of one form of my device; f

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fi 1; l

Fig. 3 is a view in e evation of one end of the apparatus, showing mechanism for 1923. Serial No. 634,492.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view illustrating a portion of the same in section;

F 1g. 7 is a'sectional view taken substantially on line 7-7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional View taken substantially on line 8-8 of Fig. 6;

Fig 9 is a sectional view similar to a 0rt1on'of Fig. 6, enlarged to more clearly s Y ow the construction: v

Fig. 10 is a sectional View similar to Fig. 6, showing a modified construction particularly adapted for hot water heat;

' Fig. 11 is a View similar to Fig. 1, illustratlnva modified type of device;

l 1g. 12 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 12-12 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a top elevation of the same;

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 1, illustratino' another modified construction;

ig. 15 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 15-15 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 16-16 of Fig. 14;

Flg. 17 is a View in elevation similar to Fig. 1, showing another form of the device;

Fig. 18 is substantially a sectional view taken on line 18-18 of Fig. 17;

Fig.- 19 is a sectional View taken substantially on line 19-19 of Fig. 17;

Fig. 20 is a sectional view through a portion of a building showing a modified s stem and construction insta-lied, embodying t e apparatus herein/shown;

Fig. 21 is a sectional View taken substantially on line 214-21 of Fig. 20;

Fig.- 22 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 22-22 of Fig. 20;

Fig. 23 is a sectional view of another modified form of heatin system;

Fig. 24 is a sectlonal view taken substantially on line 24--24 of Fig. 23; and

Fig. 25 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 25-25 of Fig. 23.

Referring to the drawings, in which several embodiments of my invention are shown, it may be mentioned that the apparatus consists in a heating unit together with mea-ns for inducing a flow of air through the unit, which air will be heated and thence `discharged for heating purposes. I have found that the heating unit itself may be made compartively compact without losing any of its eiciency, and in making it compact, it is also of comparatively light weight and ma be economically manufactured. 'Izhe simp est means of inducing a flow of air through the heatlng unit is to construct the apparatus so that there is provided what may be termed a stack in which the air is admitted at the bottom and heated, and thence travels up the stack and is discharged as desired.

The basis of design of any such heating element is to provide a great amount of heating surface exposed to'contact with the air, and at the same time provide for the maximum delivery of air through the heating element. With the effort' to cause the iow of air to be constant, it becomes my purpose to arrange the heating elements so that of its projected area as great a portion as is possible is open to the air passage therethrough,

which idea is lost track of entirely in the ordinary radiator construction as used in heating plants or systems.

Referring particularly to Figs. 5 and 6, 1 represents a conduit, preferably of cast iron or any equivalent and provided with headers 2, the parts being formed with the chambers or ducts 3 and 4. In practice I assemble the desired number of units or parts 1 so as to provide what may be termed a branched conduit. These unit conduits are arranged together substantially as shown, the headers being provided wth faced flanges 5 so that they may be fitted together, 6 bein washers or gaskets which may be arrange between the sections so as to prevent leakage thereat of steam or water. The several sections may be secured together in any suitable manner, rods.7 being shown for the purpose, which extend throughp'the headers and which are provided with nuts 8 or the equivalents at the ends. As most clearly shown in Fig. 6, the outer flange of the header on the end section is constructed as at 9 to form a bearing for the nut and washer, or `such packing or gasket as may be found desirable. Ordinarily, however, the openings at the flanges, as indicated at 10 in Fig; 6, are of a size to permit the free passage of the steam or waterin the radiator. For a steam radiator, the end header 'is flanged, as indicated at 11, for the reception of the feed pipe 12. In a one-pi system, the section at the opposite end of t e radiator may be, desired, similarly formed andclosed with a plug. f

Referring to Fig. 1, 14 represents the feed pipe or supply main, and 13 the usual controlling valve. 'As most clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 9, the parts 1 of the several. associated sections are so constructed that there is a space between the sections for the passage of air, andin these spaces I provide fins',

erabl employed for the purpose. These fins may o any desired size and shape, and secured in place in any desired manner. In the construction shown, I have arranged them in the form of crimped or corrugated strips, which are suitablysecured to the walls of the part 1. In practice I prefer to form the Section part 1 with lugs 15, at which are provided slots or recesses 16. The fins 17 are then bent back and forth or crimped, and preferably provided with a portion 18, which may be posltioned in the recesses or slots 16. Generally I prefer to solder or braze the fins in place so that a good joint is made, and heat may be readily transmitted therethrough into the fins.

The units are provided with fins on opposite sides, and when the units or sections are assembled together the fins on one section extend adjacent -to the other, butpreferably with a small space between them formin an air passage. The fins may be of'an deslred shape or design, it being preferre to provide as much surface as possible. By using the thin sheet metal ns it, is obvious that the total area of space between the sections is not reduced to any extent by reason of the fins, and yet the area exposed to the air is very large. This permits a very compact radiator construction. -While the height of the sections and fins may be varied, generally I prefer to make them of such height that all the air will be heated and yet there will be no surplus area. If desired, the usual air valve 19 may be provided in the one-pipe system, it being understood that in a vacuum system the vacuum or return pipe may be attached at this point.

In order to induce a circulation of air.

through the radiator, I provide a shell or casing 21, which in the construction shown is mounted on legs 22, which also' carr the radiator, the casing being preferably anged inwardly at the bottom, as indicated at 23. The. casing forms substantially a stack, the

height of which will more or less control the -ments. I have illustrated in Figs. 1 4and 3 a simple device for automatically controlling the damper. Referring particularly to Fig. 3, an -arm 26 is mounted on a dam er shaft 25,- and this is operatively connecte through a link 27, which may lbe'supportedat 28, and a link 29 with a thermostatic device 30 the particular device shown representing any type of thermostatic apparatus desired. Ob-

viously, as the temperature of the room varies, the thermostatic member will automatically control the damper to open or close the same.

In Fig. 10 I have illustrated a somewhat similar construction,p.except that this type is particularly adapted for hot water heat. The construction is very similar` to that described, however,-31 representing sections, and in this case the section is provided with an inlet in the head 32 and an outlet in the head 34 of one ofthe sections,-33 and 35 representing pipes in the circulating system. In the Vhot water heating adaption an 1mportant object is to attain the required heating without the use ofthe great bulkof water used in the ordinary system, and which results in very sluggish control of the room temperatures. Another object is to increase the rate of circulation of the hot water@ In the hot water system shown the radiator is so constructed that the heated water is circulated at a rate dependent in ,each channel upon the head in the hot Water supply line and is not dependent upon the thermol or hydraulic condition in the channel itself. In other words, the heated water is circulated and gives u its heat, the'heat given up being depen ent upon the supply of heated water to the radiator core and not dependent upon the thermol or hydraulic condition in each channel or section. This is not at all the case with the usual and well known type of radiator employed for heating purposes.

In Fig. 2 the stack and radiator are shown spaced from the Wall 40, as indicated at 41, this, however, varying,as will be hereinafter referred to. As shown in Fig. 2, the device is supported above the floor so that there is a space 42 for the admission of the air which is to be circulated through the stack. In this case I have shown an air pipe 45 extending through the wall-40 from the exterior, for example, of the building, 46 bein a guard which may-be arranged thereat. he inner end 47 of the pipe is broad adjacent the heater, and a damper 48 may be provided for controlling the admission of outside air, 49 in this case representing a damper-control rod.

In Figs. 11 to 13 inclusive a slightly modilied construction is shown, in which the sections may be assembledsubstantially as previously described, but in this case the headers 51 are arranged one yabove the other and connected by the conduits 52, 53 being the iins, which I prefer to extend at an angle.

The heating element is disposed at the opening in the casing 54 and is of approximately the saine size, leaving a space between it and l the rear wall as shown. The fins 53 are inclined to the vertical and horizontal and slope upwardly and inwardly. This device is provided with the stack or casing 54, which may be secured to the wall 55 lby the brackets '56, or their equivalents. In this construction 1t will be noted' that the wall itself forms one side of the stack. Lhave illustrated a. damper 55. The device is connected up with the feed pcirple 57, and the usual valve 58 is provided. e air in contact :with the tubes and fins is thus caused to flow diagonally upward and into the casing 54. The iiow of air out at the top of the casing 54 is controlled by damper 55. It is believed that the construction will be obvious by reference to the figures specified. A somewhat similar arran ement is shown in Figs. 14 to 16, except t at in this'case the assembled sections are arranged at an angle, as indicated at 60. The wall 61 may form one side, 62 representing the other sides of the stack, and damper 63 may be provided, if preferred. In this particular type the casing or stack is shown provided with doors 64, and with shelves 6,5, preferably of woven wires or perforated sheets. 66 represents ,the supply pipe.- This form is particularly adapted for use in kitchens, pantries, or any other place in which it may be desired to have a warming closet whereby the heat may be utilized for the additional purpose of warming dishes or other'articles.

Figs. 17, 18 and 19 illustrate a mantle type of radiator, a construction in which the stack is of considerable height. The heating sections 67 maybe arranged as shown, or in any of the other ways previously described.-

struction in which the heating elements are so arranged that the building structure itself forms the stacks, it being understood that \the same niaybe'lined or protected in any suitable manner, if desired. There is also shown in these figures how the upper iioor may be heated from below, this being particularly desirable' in xdwellings, in many cases. Referring to the figures last-mentioned 73 represents the outer wall of the buildin s, 74 the inner wall, and in the case shown, 5 represents studding or the equivalent. I have also shown the two floors 77, iirst and second, and the joists 76. 78 represents the ceiling of the first floor.

In this particular construction air is taken from the first iioor, heated and dischar ed to the first and second fioors, it being un erstood that the inlet or taking in of the air to be 'heated may be at any desired pointand supplemented by an air inlet from the exterior of the building. VAs shown, 79 and 80 izov represent the two discharge Vpoints of the heated air, and 81` and 82 the admission, 83

described and made up of the sections of the V desired size and shape. These are so mounted in the walls between the studding, or the equivalent, that the building construction 1tself forms the stack or flue. Dampers 84 and similar to the eilicient autombbile radiator construction, and the design may if desires embody some of the automobile radiator construction features. With the construction described, not only is the apparatus, to wit, the heating units, made up o and fins of light weight and inexpensive, but the saine isv also particularly compact and eiiicient. The stacksmay be of the desired size, shape and construction, and made as ornamental as may be desired.

In the form shown in Figs. 2 3-25 there is a shield 91 above the heatin member 90, the stack being of shallow dept 92 and 93 indicate the lath and plaster, respectively. 94 indicates a cap which is arranged to close the opening at the discharge end of the duct, if

desired.

Having thus described my invention, it is obviousthat various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be -understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described or: uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: i

1. In a device of the kind described, an enclosure, 'an opening in the upper portion of said enclosure, an opening inthe lower portion of said enclosure, a radiator disposed at said lower opening, said radiator comprising a plurality of tubes having tubular end portions disposed at right angles to the tubes, said tubes being provided with transversely arranged spaced recesses and said: tubular portions forming passages `@oininunicating with the ends of each tube, means extending through said passages for detachably securing the tubes to each other, and a plurality of sets of fins being formed of a single sheet of metal and being provided with spaced projections fitting into said recees to hold said finson the tubes, said fins having portions inclined to the vertical and. horizontal and sloping upward into said enclosure.

2. In -a heating apparatus, an enclosure having an air outlet and havin a front wall provided with an opening in t e lower portion thereof, and a radiator disposed at said the several sections lower-Jopening, perforated shelves arranged above the radiator, said radiator having passage ways providing the onl means whereby air may pa through sai lower opening into said enclosure.

3. In a heatin apparatus, an enclosure havin an air out et land havi a front wall provi ed with an opening in t e lower portion thereof, a radiator disposed at said lower opening, perforated shelves arranged above the radiator, said radiator having passage ways providing the only means whereby air may pass through said-lower opening into said enclosure, and a damper mounted in the upper ortion of said enclosure. 4 4. In a evice of the class described, an enclosure comprising a vertical stack having front and rear walls, said stack having an opening in the upper portion thereof and said front wall having an opening in the lower portion thereof, a radiator obliquely disposed in the lower portion of said stack and having upwardly and rearwardly extending passage ways, said passage ways providing the only means by which air entering said opening can pass through said stack.

5. In a heating apparatus, an enclosure comprising a vertical unrestricted air shaft, an opening in the upper portion of said shaft, an opening in the lower portion of the shaft, a heating element having fluid conducting tubes, all of which are located in substantially the saine-plane, said heating element being arranged transversely of the length in the interior of the enclosure above said lower opening, said heating element being of substantially the same cross sectional contour as that of the interior of the enclosure and having passage-ways providing the sole means whereby air may pass through said lower opening and into the shaft.

6.- In heating apparatus, a member providing an enclosure and an air shaft having an opening in the upper portion thereof, an opening in the lower portion of the member, a heating element, said heating element being arranged transversely of the length in the interior of the enclosure above the lower opening and being of substantially the same cross sectional contour as that of the interior of the enclosure and having passageways providing the sole means 'whereby air may pass through the lower opening and into the shaft, and means for regulating passage of air from said enclosure.

7. In heating apparatus, a member providing an enclosure and an air shaft having an opening in the upper portion thereof, an opening in the lower portion of the member, a heating element, said heating element being arranged transversely of the length in the interior of the enclosure'above the lower openthe enclosure and having passageways providing the sole means whereby air may pass through the lower opening and into the shaft, and thermal responsive meansl for regulating passage of air from said enclosure.

8: In heating apparatus, an enclosure provlding an air shaft having an opening in the upper portion thereof and an opening in the lower portion, a heating element having tubular-fluid passages, all of which are located in the same plane, said heating element being located in the enclosure and extending from the upper portion of the lower opening to the rear of the enclosure and havlng passageways providing the sole means whereby air may pass through the lower opening and into said enclosure.

9. In heating apparatus, an enclosure providing an air shaft having an opening at the upper portion thereof and an opening at the lower portion, a heating element having fluid passages, all of which are arranged in the same plane, said heating element being located in the enclosure and extending from the upper portion of the lower opening to the rear of the enclosure and having passageways providing the sole means whereby air may pass throug'h the lower opening and into said enclosure. l

In testimony signed my name.

ARTHUR B. MODINE.

whereof,` I have hereunto 

